Bizarre "heartbeat sound" started in left speaker and now won't stop!

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Level 1

1 points

Bizarre "heartbeat sound" started in left speaker and now won't stop!

At first, I heard this "heartbeat sound" (a pulsing beat almost twice per second) only sporadically, but now it is incessant and begins even before I get the login prompt on my new Macbook Pro.

Help!

Has anyone else experienced this incredibly annoying sound? Adjusting the volume control has absolutely no effect on this noise.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.5), 2.16GHz, 100GB 7200rpm, 1GB RAM

Posted on Mar 31, 2006 11:06 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 1, 2006 1:07 AM in response to thehighend

Please ignore the above poster. Obviously someone the Mod's need to catch up with.

This sounds like one of the wires may be shorting on something. If you have ever connecter a car stereo, you may know that depending on how a speaker is wired depends on whether the cone PULLS or PUSHES. Easiest way to test in a car is to us a small AA size battery across the wires to test which wire is + and which -.
Sounds like your speaker is constantly pulling itself in and out, possibly a short that has connected to something with a more rythmic electrical input.

If you have an Apple Store nearby, take it in. If not, ring AppleCare, it definitely shouldn't be doing this and needs to be sorted out.

Hope that helps

Regards
Tom Fall

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Answer 2

thehighend Author

Level 1

1 points

Apr 1, 2006 7:52 AM in response to thehighend

After much late-night searching for information and fiddling with settings to try and resolve the issue, I finally gave up with no luck. I also tried reboots, turning the machine on and off, and running off battery vs. A/C. NOTHING could stop that sound, and the sound would start about 3 seconds after turning the machine on, and would stop only the instant it would turn off (or Sleep).

I had resolved to wake up early this morning and reinstall the system software, before resorting to taking the machine in for service/exchange.

Well, when I woke up and "un-slept" the computer, that dreaded heartbeat sound was gone!! My machine was quite warm when it started yesterday, and the longer I worked the hotter the machine got, so I'm thinking it was heat related.

If it starts again when the machine gets hot, I will definitely need a replacement.

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Answer 3

Mar 31, 2006 11:10 PM in response to thehighend

Oh great! Now someone has ANOTHER "incredibly annoying" sound. Lets start a hundred threads about this one.

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Answer 4

Apr 1, 2006 1:04 AM in response to thehighend

I don't think I've ever heard this noise, from your description. Can you record it?

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Answer 5

Apr 1, 2006 4:40 AM in response to thehighend

maybe this will sound stupid, but have you checked your microphone input/output level?

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Answer 6

Apr 1, 2006 9:16 AM in response to thehighend

It's the intro to "Dark Side of the Moon" Pink Floyd... It's on the boot ROM.

Heck, that's a new one.

William

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